OKC beats Spurs, makes claim for top seed with win

Published 11:26 pm, Thursday, April 4, 2013

Tim Duncan shoots over the outstretched arm of Thunder forward Nick Collison in Oklahoma City. Duncan had another strong game, but the Spurs were unable to dig out of a 20-point hole.

Tim Duncan shoots over the outstretched arm of Thunder forward Nick Collison in Oklahoma City. Duncan had another strong game, but the Spurs were unable to dig out of a 20-point hole.

Photo: Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press

OKC beats Spurs, makes claim for top seed with win

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OKLAHOMA CITY — There is a misconception, common in NBA circles, that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't care about earning a No. 1 playoff seed.

That isn't accurate, exactly.

“No one would turn it down if given,” Popovich said. “You wouldn't give it up if you had it.”

That ball is in Oklahoma City's court now.

Russell Westrbook had 27 points, Kevin Durant scored 25 and old Spurs nemesis Derek Fisher emerged from hibernation long enough to send the Thunder to a 100-88 victory Thursday at Chesapeake Energy Arena that puts them in the lead to claim the Western Conference's top seed.

Fisher, who had totaled 13 points in his previous nine games, erupted for 17 — including four first-half 3-pointers — to help spark the OKC victory.

With it, the Thunder (55-20) pull within a half-game of the Spurs (56-20) atop the West standings, but the deficit is only a matter of mathematics. Tied in the loss column, and likely owner of the tiebreaker, OKC controls its own destiny the rest of the way.

The Spurs and Thunder split the season series at two games apiece. If the teams end the season with identical records, the knot would be unraveled based on record against Western Conference teams.

“It's going to be a dogfight until the end,” said Tony Parker, who finished with two points in 25:27 and played just two minutes in the fourth quarter.

“Every game is going to count. We're going to do our best to keep first place, but if we don't finish first it's not the end of the world, either.”

Despite trailing by as many as 20 points early, and by 14 in the fourth quarter, the Spurs clawed to within five points with five minutes to play.

Kawhi Leonard had 24 points, 14 rebounds and six assists to help keep the Spurs in the game. Tim Duncan had 24 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, while Gary Neal chipped in 14 points.

The rest of the Spurs combined for 25.

Durant, who otherwise had a rather quiet night, gave OKC some breathing room and a nine-point lead with 3:14 left with a top-of-the-key 3-pointer.

“They're a championship-caliber team,” Popovich said of the Thunder. “They're capable of winning a championship.”

In the days leading up to Thursday's clash, Popovich signaled his intention to fight for the top seed, reconfiguring his lineup and resting key players in two games prior to ensure maximum freshness for the showdown with the Thunder.

Duncan sat out a loss at Memphis on Monday. Parker sat out a win over Orlando on Wednesday. Kawhi Leonard missed both games.

Only one Spurs starter on Thursday (Danny Green) had logged more than 17 minutes the night before.

It set up what amounted to, if not a last stand for the Spurs at Chesapeake Energy Arena, their last good chance at staving off the hard-charging Thunder.

OKC buried the Spurs' best-laid plans with work early in quarters, opening them with runs of 11-4, 12-3, 12-2 and 8-0.

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SpursNation.com:
Check out a photo gallery from the Spurs' loss to the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

Fisher, a 38-year-old relic who had made 16 percent of his 3-point attempts in the previous 11 games, buried the first four he saw Thursday to set the tone for OKC..

He was the impetus behind a 23-5 spurt that pushed the Thunder ahead 41-21 barely four minutes into the second quarter. The Spurs never could dig all the way out.